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Postdoctoral Researcher Receives Fellowship for Work on Osteoarthritis

Jennifer Robinson, a postdoctoral researcher working alongside Dr. Helen Lu of Biomedical Engineering and Dr. Sunil Wadhwa of the College of Dental Medicine's Division of Orthodontics, received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, F32 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The three-year, $176,490 award will fund Dr. Robinson’s research focused on understanding the sex predilection of jaw joint (temporomandibular joint (TMJ)) osteoarthritis and highlighting therapeutic targets to delay estrogen-mediated TMJ degeneration. The proposed studies focus on determining the mechanistic role of estrogen on promoting the production of cartilage in the jaw and correlating these estrogen-related effects to alterations in mechanical properties and function of the joint. Results from this work will give insight into the reasons why post-menopausal women experience TMJ osteoarthritis more than men and potential avenues to pursue for treatment.